Mounting apparatus for remote disengagement and engagement of submersible pumps

ABSTRACT

MOUNTING APPARATUS FOR LOWERING, RAISING AND SECURING IN PLACE A SUBMERSIBLE PUMP. THE APPARATUS INCLUDES AN ALIGNMENT RACK FOR ALIGNING WITHIN A LIQUID HOLDING VAT A SUBMERSIBLE PUMP WITH A DISCHARGE PIPE WITHIN THE VAT FOR COUPLING TO THE PUMP. ADJUSTABLE MEMBERS ARE ADAPTED FOR ENGAGING THE PUMP WITHIN THE VAT AND EXTENDING OUTSIDE THE VAT. THE MEMBERS ARE FURTHER ADAPTED TO URGE THE PUMP IN AND OUT OF COUPLING RELATIONSHIP TO THE DISCHARGE PIPE RESPONSIVE TO ADJUSTMENTS PERFORMED ON SAID MEMBERS OUTSIDE THE VAT. A PUMP CAGE IS GUIDED RELATIVE TO THE ALIGNMENT RACK AND DISCHARGE PIPE. THE CAGE IS MOVABLE LATERALLY WITH RELATIONSHIP TO THE DISCHARGE PIPE SO AS TO MOVE THE PUMP LATERALLY CLEAR OF THE DISCHARGE TUBE WHEN THE PUMP AND PIPE ARE UNCOUPLED, AND PULLEY MEANS ARE PROVIDED FOR RAISING AND LOWERING THE PUMP FROM AND TO THE CAGE WHEN CLEAR OF THE DISCHARGE TUBE.

June 6, IQIZ ER 3,667,715

MOUNTING APPARATUS FOR REMOTE DISENGAGEMENT AND ENGAGEMENT OFSUBMERSIBLE PUMPS Filed Jan. 25, 1971 23 LA 19 E?) a 20 22 E ILO IN V ENTOR. JO/MN/V MERTENJ 4 TTOR/VEY United States Patent US. Cl. 248-327Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Mounting apparatus for lowering,raising and securing in place a submersible pump. The apparatus includesan alignment rack for aligning within a liquid holding vat a submersiblepump with a discharge pipe within the vat for coupling to the pump.Adjustable members are adapted for engaging the pump within the vat andextending outside the vat. The members are further adapted to urge thepump in and out of coupling relationship to the discharge piperesponsive to adjustments performed on said members outside the vat. Apump cage is guided relative to the alignment rack and discharge pipe.The cage is movable laterally with relationship to the discharge pipe soas to move the pump laterally clear of the discharge tube when the pumpand pipe are uncoupled, and pulley means are provided for raising andlowering the pump from and to the cage when clear of the discharge tube.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention pertains to apparatusfor use in conjunction with submersible pumps employed for pumping,recirculating or decanting liquids or slurries from a vat. Sincesubmersible pumps are submerged in the liquid medium on which theyoperate, leakage is not as of critical concern as it is with centrifugaland reciproeating pumps which are located outside the medium.

A problem encountered in installing or removing submersible pumps fromtanks or wells for repair, inspection or replacement is that pipe jointsmust be broken or pipes cut in order to lift the pump out of the tank orwell. This operation is time consuming and exposes workmen to hazards ofworking within the tank or well vat. The problem is of even more concernin industrial nuclear power plants where the pump is utilized withliquids or slurries contaminated with radioactive substances.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION Apparatus for use in installing andremoving submersible pumps from a vat such as tanks and wells. Theapparatus allows installation, including pipe connections, to be doneremotely from outside the vat. Similarly, when it is desired to removethe pump, disconnection of the pump and pipes and bringing the pump tothe exterior is all controllable from outside the vat.

An exemplary embodiment includes a secured alignment rack within thevat. The rack position is selected relative to that of the pump-pipecoupling end of a discharge pipe. The rack is adapted to guide a pumpcage supporting a pump so as to provide alignment of the pump-pipecoupling of the pump and pipe. The cage is movable laterally relative tothe rack such that the pump outlet can be positioned in longitudinalalignment with the pipe while being out of coupling relationship. Thecage includes an extension extending near an opening of the vat. The endof the extension engages a slide rail near the opening such that lateralmovement of the end of the extension along the slide rail results inlateral movement of the cage towards and away from the rack.Accordingly, the pump within the cage is moved laterally in and out3,667,715 Patented June 6, 1972 of longitudinal alignment with thedischarge pipe. A tie rod means extends from the exterior of the vat tothe vicinity of the alignment rack. The interior end of the tie rodmeans includes engaging means for engaging the pump when the pump is inproper longitudinal alignment with the pump-pipe coupling of the pipesuch that the pump and pipe are in alignment compatible for coupling.Adjusting means are included on the exterior ends of the tie rods tourge the pump, through the engaging means, towards the pipe for couplingthe pipe and pump. The coupling fit between the pipe and pump arepreferably of a pressure fit nature with the pressure being controlledby the external adjusting means.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view ofmounting apparatus of the present invention for mounting a submersiblepump in a liquid containing vat;

FIG. 2 is a front view of that portion of FIG. 1 illustrating therelationship of the pump and discharge pipe prior to coupling;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the alignment rack of FIG. 1 and illustratingthe guide forks; and

FIG. 4 is a top view of the mounted apparatus of FIG. 1 from outside thevat.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT FIGS. 1-4 illustrate a preferredembodiment of the mounting apparatus of the present invention andreferred to by the general reference character 1. The mounting apparatusis illustrated within a liquid containing vat in the form of a tank 3.Exit between the interior and exterior of the tank 3 is through anexit-adit opening 5 of a top plate 6. The entrance way may be sealedwith a portable cover 7. Within the tank 3 there is a submersible typepump 9 which is designed to pump the liquid within the tank through apump discharge pipe 11 having a female conical shaped coupling 12.Extending from the exterior of the top plate 6 to the interior of thetank 3 is a support rod means in the form of a pair of tie rods 13spaced apart in one lateral direction and positioned laterally to theopening 5 in another direction. The tie rods 13 each carry a threaded,externally exposed end joined by securing means in the form of nuts 15and a support plate 17 laterally joining the exposed ends of the rods13. The interior ends of the tie rods each carry a tie rod engaging hook19 opening to receive a pair of studs 20 of a pair of support arms 21 onthe pump 9. The pump 9 also includes a pair of hooks 22 and a malecoupling 23 complementary to the coupling 12 and joined to a nipple 24.

Adjacent to the engaging hooks 19 is a pump alignment rack referred toby the general reference character 25. The rack 25 carries a pair ofV-shaped guide forks 27 longitudinally spaced apart an adequate distanceto engage the pump 9 at spaced apart points. The guide alignment rackalso carries a pair of laterally displaced tie rod guides 29 each ofwhich includes eyes 31 for guiding the supporting tie rods 13. The rods13 are slideable through the eyes 31. The rack 25 further includes asupport means in the form of a V-shaped angle iron support 33 forsupporting the guides and forks. The support 33 may be secured in placeto the side of the bottom of the tank 3.

Supported by the top plate 6 and beneath the opening 5 is a guide trackmeans in the form of a pair of roller guide tracks 35 supporting andguiding a pair of roller members 37. Each of the roller members 37 joinsa cage extension arm 39 which extends within the tank 3 beneath thehooks 19.

At the lower internal end of the extension arms 39 is a cage medium,referred to by the general reference character 41, for supporting thepump 9. As shown, the cage medium 41 carries a bottom support plate 43with a plurality of side rails 45 about the periphery so as to cup theend of the pump 9. The cage medium 41 further includes a U-shaped bumperguide 47 and a U-shaped support 49. A lateral support 51 extends betweenthe arms 39 and joins a spring-type member 53 extending: to one of therails 45 so as to firmly hold the pump 9 in place. Accordingly, theentire cage medium 41 and arm extensions 39 may be moved laterallyWithin the tank 3 towards and away from the pump alignment rack 25 bymovement of the roller member 37 along the tracks 35. The cage medium 41and pump 9 may thus be moved to a select position as indicated in FIGS.1 and 2 for coupling of the pump 9 and pipe 11 and to a positionrelative to the opening for entrance and exit of the pump to and fromthe interior of the tank 3.

Joining the hooks 22 are a pair of cables 55 which may extend to theexterior of the tank 3, e.g. to a winch. Accordingly, the cable 55 maybe utilized to hoist the pump 9 to and from the cage 41 through theadit-exit opening 5. Assuming, the pump 9 is to be installed, the pumpis lowered through the opening 5 to the cage medium 41 by the cables 55.When in the cage medium 41, the studs 20 on the pump are in alignmentwith the open ends of the books 19. The roller members 37 are then urgedalong the guide tracks 35 thereby laterally shifting the cage medium 41and the pump 9 toward the alignment rack 25. The bumper guide 47 comesinto contact with the rail 33 and the forks 27 with the pump 9 forguiding the position of the cage medium and pump relative to the rack.The studs 20 slide through the openings of the hooks 19. Thus, the hooks19 and studs 20 serve as a coupling means when the cage medium 41 andthe pump 9 are in a select position. The tie rods 13 are then tightenedfrom the exterior through the nuts 15 to a predesignated position toassure proper pressure fit of the male coupling 23 with the femalecoupling 12. The engagement and disengagement distance of the pump 9 maybe indicated on an indicator scale 57 supported by the top plate 6. Thedesired setting may be indicated at the time the pump 9 is initiallyinstalled.

Accordingly, as illustrated by the figures, the present inventionprovides a mounting apparatus in which a submersible pump may be mountedand replaced or repaired without the necessity of an individual enteringthe interior of the tank. The necessary operations may all be doneremotely from the exterior of the tank medium.

I claim:

1. Mounting apparatus for supporting a submersible group in a vat andfor coupling the pump to a pipe medium from a remote location, theapparatus comprising, in combination:

support rod means extending from the exterior to the interior of a vat,the position of said support rod means within the vat being controllablefrom the exterior of the vat;

a cage medium placed within the vat for supporting a submersible pump;

means for said support rod means and a submersible pump supported bysaid cage medium when said cage medium and pump are in a select positionrelative to said support rod means;

extension arm means engaging said cage medium at one end; and

guide track means engaging the extension arm means for guiding theextension arms relative to said support rod means to move said cagemedium between said select position and a position relative to aneXit-adit opening in said vat to receive said pump.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which said support rod meansinclude adjustment means at the exterior end for adjusting the positionof said support rod means within the vat.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 and comprising pump alignment rackmeans secured within said vat adjacent to said support rod means withinthe interior of the vat.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3 in which said pump alignment rackincludes guide means for guiding the position of said cage medium.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4 in which the pump includes a couplingfor pressure coupling to a pressure pipe coupling within said vat.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5 in which said pump alignment rackguide means are positioned to guide said cage means and the pump toposition the pump coupling and pipe coupling in alignment, and in whichsaid adjustment means of the support rod means urge the pump couplingand pipe coupling into engagement.

7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6 and comprising hoisting engagementmeans for engaging a pump and hoisting the pump to and from said cagemedium through the adit-exit opening.

8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 7 in which said pump alignment rackmeans further include guide means for guiding said support rod meansrelative to said pump alignment rack.

9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 7 in which said guide track meansinclude rail means for attachment to the vat adjacent to said adit-exitopening and roller means secured to the extension arm means and inengagement with said rail means.

10. Apparatus as claimed in claim 9 in which the means for coupling thesupport rod means and said pump include hook means supported by saidsupport rod means, said hook means including an opening through whichstud means on said pump may slide.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,018,925 1/l962 Englesson417-360 UX 3,234,885 2/1966 Englesson 417-360 UX 3,427,982 2/1969Englesson 417360 UX 3,517,738 6/1970 Petersen 166.6 3,570,722 3/ 1971Montelius 222-333 I. FRANKLIN FOSS, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R.

